Defence Minister launches iDEX-Prime & 6th Defence India Start-up Challenge during DefConnect 2.0 in New Delhi

What is the News?

The Defence Minister has launched Innovations for Defence Excellence(iDEX) Prime and sixth Defence India Start-up Challenge(DISC 6) during DefConnect 2.0 in New Delhi.

What is DefConnect 2.0?

Organized by: Innovations for Defence Excellence(iDEX), Defence Innovation Organisation(DIO), under the aegis of the Department of Defense Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence(MoD).

Purpose: To bring together start-ups, big companies and armed forces personnel to boost indigenous innovation in the defence sector.

What are the initiatives launched at this event?

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Prime: It is aimed at supporting projects, requiring support beyond Rs 1.5 crore up to Rs 10 crore in the ever-growing defence start-ups.

Defence India Start-up Challenge(DISC 6): It has been launched under the ongoing iDEX initiative. It aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in the defence and aerospace sectors.

Innovate4Defence internship (i4D): It is an acceleration program for students of Higher Educational Institutions(HEIs). It is an opportunity for them to learn about developing their ideas, creating innovative Defence products and eventually becoming a part of the Indian Defence ecosystem and procurement. 

Source:  This post is based on the article “Defence Minister launches iDEX-Prime & 6th Defence India Start-up Challenge during DefConnect 2.0 in New Delhi” published in PIB on 22nd April 2022